Board advances planning for November ballot to raise jail district sales tax to statutory 0.5%

County management updated the Board of Supervisors May 20 on a resolution that will refer a ballot measure to voters on November 3 proposing to increase the existing jail district excise tax by a quarter cent — from 0.25% to the statutory 0.5% cap — to better fund detention operations.

The county manager explained a draft ballot language has been circulated for review and that statutory deadlines require finalized language early in July; staff asked supervisors for further review and indicated they will agendize the item for June 3 to seek board approval of final language. Staff said they have prepared draft outreach materials and will produce only factual publicity pamphlets required by statute; they emphasized the county cannot advocate for or against the measure in those statutorily required materials.

Sheriff (speaker 8) addressed historical context, saying that prior attempts to increase the jail tax faced voter rejection in 2008 and 2014 and that the quarter‑cent level has not fully funded operations and capital needs. He expressed support for the proposed half‑cent sales tax option and urged clear messaging and consideration of offsetting increases in property tax that had been implemented previously to fund the jail buildout.

Why it matters: If approved by voters, the sales tax shift would reduce reliance on general fund/property tax resources used to subsidize the jail district and spread some costs to sales tax payers (including visitors) rather than concentrating the burden solely on property taxpayers.

Next steps: Staff to revise ballot language and public outreach materials, then return for board action ahead of the July 8 ballot language submittal deadline; the county will prepare a statutorily required publicity pamphlet and accept pro/con statements.